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November 15 is National Recycling Day

The Library is an active participant in the Ozarks' efforts to recycle and reuse our resources. Individual Library branches and even individual employees make efforts to be efficient with our energy and resources. Here are some examples:

Paper recycling -- In September, the Library recycled almost 5,000 pounds of paper which saved approximately 35 trees, 6 cubic yards of landfill, 14,000 gallons of water, 8,500 kwh of electricity, and 125 lbs. of air pollution.

Some staff breakrooms and even departments have bins for cans and plastics.

On Tuesday, November 15, Edco Group Inc. will be parked at the Library Center from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a "shredding event." Edco will place all your old documents, bills, bank statements, and other personal papers in locked bins and deliver them to Edco's shredder at its Springfield headquarters.

How You Can Help the Library

You can help us save even more paper and energy! Sign up for email notifications from the Library about item due date reminders, pickups or cancellations for holds, and "overdue" notices. Not only is it "green," but email notices are also the most reliable and fastest method to receive Library notices.

It's easy. Just give your email address to a librarian at the checkout desk, or log in to your account at thelibrary.org/myaccount to add or update your email address. To make sure you don't miss any emails, add circadm@www.coolcat.orgto your approved email contacts.

A few numbers for you:

Each day at the Library there may be approximately 15,000 individuals with items on hold. Almost 6,000 of those individuals still receive notification by mail or telephone instead of the more "green" and speedier email notification of their hold availability.

On any given day, there can be more than 25,000 individuals with items checked out from the Library. More than half of those individuals have not added an email address to their Library account, so they don't receive a courtesy due date reminder email. If those individuals sign up for email notifications, they will receive the reminder and maybe save a little money on those overdue fines.

Community Resources for You

Recycling Facilities

The city of Springfield offers three recycling facilities for citizens to use. Hours for each facility vary, as does what each facility accepts. A detailed guide to recyclables is available from the city, as well as directions to each location.

Yard Waste Recycling Center
Did you know? You can also purchase mulch and compost from the Yard Waste Recycling Center. Call their hotline number, 417-864-1904, before visiting to ensure product availability. For pricing information visit their website.

Curbside Recycling

Can't make it to a recycling center? Since 1991, Springfield residents have been able to recycle from their own homes with Curbside Recycling. According to the city's recycling website, all haulers in the city of Springfield are required to offer this service. To find out more, contact your hauler for specifics.

But what if you need to recycle something other than the regular paper, glass and plastic? Never fear, you still have options.

Household Chemical Recycling Center

The Household Chemical Recycling Center is located at 1226 W. Nichols St. and provides a safe means for the disposal of common household chemicals. The center is open year-round and an appointment is required to use this service. Make an appointment by calling 417-864-2000.

Computer Recycling Center

The Computer Recycling Center is located at 1434 N. National Ave., hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. The center accepts many items for free, including LCD monitors, DVD players, and stereos. A few items such as television sets and microwaves require a small fee. Check the full list of items accepted and fees before you visit.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is located at 2410 S. Scenic Ave. Donate your gently used home improvement items to the Habitat ReStore. Call 417-829-4001 to schedule a pick-up.